What does it mean to be a "good patient"?

I read an interesting post on a nurse’s blog about The “perfect” patient.   Go read her post and then come back and read this.

She had some good points.

1.  Open mind.  I agree with this.  Some moms who are so focused on one thing, sometimes create that reality.  So focus on what you DO want.  Prepare for the best, but realize that birth is unpredictable and be flexible.  But also pick a great care provider who will support you in what you want (as long as mom and baby are ok then they should be supportive.)

2.  Of course all care providers (nurses, OB’s, midwives) want healthy mom and baby.   That is what mom wants too.  🙂  But again, as long as mom and baby are doing ok, then there should be much flexibility.

3.  Develop a relationship with your nurse!  This is SO true.  In a hospital birth a good nurse is going to help so much in having a positive birth experience.  The nurse has to keep mom happy, the OB happy and the hospital happy.  Not an easy job.

4.  Be prepared!  YES this is huge, educate yourself and then share what you want with your nurse.

5.  Bring treats.  This is something we teach moms in Hypnobabies, bring treats, the nurses love them!  It also helps with number 3.

So what makes a “good patient”?  I think that truly moms shouldn’t worry about that.  Also they shouldn’t think of themselves as patients, this is the problem.  Moms are giving birth.   Usually birth is a normal life event, not a medical event.  (As long as mom and baby are ok, certainly there are times when it should become a medical event.)

Having said that, if a mom chooses to birth in a hospital on the one hand she needs to be flexible and on the other she needs to be ready to really fight for what is important to her.

Your focus during birth shouldn’t be, Am I being a good patient?  Your focus should be on you and your baby!